Electronic device, and device and method for protecting the electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9871549-B2
Application number	US-201615236896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Aug 13, 2015
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device, a protection device, and a method for protecting the electronic device with the protection device is provided. The electronic device includes a sensor module configured to detect a motion state of the electronic device when a cover is connected to the electronic device, and a processor configured to control an actuator of the cover based on the detected motion state of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a display;
a sensor; and
a processor configured to:
receive, through the sensor, a motion state of the electronic device when a cover is connected to the electronic device, and
control an actuator of the cover based on the motion state of the electronic device, and such that an opening and closing unit of the cover covers or uncovers the display.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is dropped based on the motion state and control the opening and closing unit of the cover to cover or uncover the display based on a result of the determination.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises a gyro sensor, and
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether an amount of rotation of the electronic device is greater than a preset amount of rotation, and determine whether the electronic device is dropped based on a result of the determination of the amount of rotation.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises an acceleration sensor, and
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a speed change of the electronic device is greater than a preset acceleration, and determine whether the electronic device is dropped based on a result of the determination of the speed change.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor detects an open and closed state of the cover, and
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the cover is open or closed based on the detected open and closed state, and control the opening and closing unit of the cover to cover or uncover the display based on a result of the determination of whether the cover is open or closed and whether the electronic device is dropped.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a proximity sensor, an illumination sensor, and a magnetic sensor.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 ,
wherein the sensor detects an orientation state of the display, and the processor is configured to control the opening and closing unit of the cover to cover or uncover the display based on the detected orientation state of the display, whether the cover is open or closed, and whether the electronic device is dropped.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to control the opening and closing unit of the cover to cover the display when it is determined that the electronic device is dropped and the display is oriented in a same direction as a dropping direction when the cover is open.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to maintain an open state of the cover when it is determined that the electronic device is dropped, the display is oriented in a same direction as a dropping direction, and the cover is open.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to maintain an open state of the cover when it is determined that the electronic device is dropped, the display is oriented in a direction opposite of a dropping direction, and the cover is open.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to maintain a closed state of the cover when it is determined that the electronic device is dropped and the cover is closed.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises an application processor (AP) and a low power processor (LPP), and the LPP controls the opening and closing unit of the cover to cover or uncover the display when the AP is in a sleep mode.

13. A protection device for protecting an electronic device, the protection device comprising:
a connection portion connected with the electronic device;
an actuator configured to actuate the protection device;
a controller configured to control the actuator based on a control signal obtained from the connected electronic device through the connection portion; and
an opening and closing portion formed to cover and uncover a display of the electronic device when being open and closed,
wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator to open or close the opening and closing portion.

14. The protection device of claim 13 , wherein the connection portion comprises a near field communication (NFC) tag that sends a control signal obtained from the electronic device to the controller.

15. The protection device of claim 13 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor configured to rotate according to control of opening and closing by the controller and opens and closes the opening and closing portion based on the rotation.

16. The protection device of claim 13 , wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory material configured to be deformed based on an electric signal obtained from the electronic device and is deformed to open and close the opening and closing portion based on the electric signal.

17. The protection device of claim 16 , wherein the shape memory material comprises an electro-active polymer material or an electro-physical polymer material.

18. A method for protecting an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting connection of a cover to the electronic device;
detecting a motion state of the electronic device upon connection of the cover; and
controlling an actuator of the connected cover based on the detected motion state, and such that an opening and closing unit of the cover covers or uncovers a display of the electronic device.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kil Kwang-Min
• Choi Jae-Hoon
• KANG Li-Yeon
• Park Jin-Keun
• Lee Sang-Soo
• LIM Min-Jong
• Kim Dong-Sub
• Lee Sang-Kyu
• Choi Jong-Chul
• Heo Chang-Ryong

Classifications

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04W4/80 Primary

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04W4/008

  Electricity · mapped topic